Risk factors for wheezing in the first year of life.
OBJECTIVE
To assess risk factors for wheezing in infants in southern Brazil.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study using a standardized and validated questionnaire (Estudio Internacional de Sibilancias en Lactantes, EISL, or International Study of Wheezing in Infants). Parents of infants aged 12-15 months who attended 35 of 107 health centers between August 2005 and December 2006 for regular immunization were interviewed. The association between wheezing and factors studied was made using a prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence interval of 95% (95%CI) to perform a univariate analysis. Factors associated with wheezing in the bivariate analysis were studied using Poisson regression.


RESULTS
Three thousand and three parents of infants filled out the questionnaire. The risk factors were male gender (PR = 1.14; 95%CI 1.05-1.24), history of asthma in the family [mother (PR = 1.18; 95%CI 1.04-1.33); father (PR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.05-1.39); siblings (PR = 1.23; 95%CI 1.08-1.42)], other pets in the home during pregnancy (PR = 1.28; 95%CI 1.07-1.53), age when child started daycare [0-3 months (PR = 1.15; 95%CI 0.98-1.34); 4-6 months (PR = 1.39; 95%CI 1.24-1.55); 7-12 months (PR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.07-1.35)], six or more episodes of cold (PR = 1.32; 95%CI 1.21-1.44), personal history of dermatitis (PR = 1.09; 95%CI 1.003-1.19), and mold in the home (PR = 1.14; 95%CI 1.04-1.24). Up-to-date immunization (PR = 0.79; 95%CI 0.63-0.98) and bathroom in the home (PR = 0.83; 95%CI 0.68-1.01) were protective factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Independent risk factors for wheezing in the first year of life are also known risks for asthma in children and adolescents. These data are useful to predict the diagnosis of asthma and to promote its prevention (when applicable).
Chong Neto
Herberto José
HJ
Medicina Interna, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. h.chong@uol.com.br
Rosário
Nelson Augusto
NA
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires